“Is that right?” said Puller. “And the liquid armor?”
“Armor that’s flexible until the impact of a bullet triggers it to instantly harden into a shield as impenetrable as steel. Then it repairs itself after being damaged by enemy fire.”
“Sounds like a Marvel movie.”
“Only our version isn’t special effects. It actually works.”
“So you’re basically building the super soldier?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re funded by DARPA, right?”
“Yes, although I think our direct link is DSO, the Defense Sciences Office. But they report directly to DARPA’s director. Before I came to Atalanta, I worked at another contractor on TMS projects.”
“TMS?”
“Transcranial magnetic stimulation. There’s also its counterpart, transcranial direct current stimulation. The differences are pretty much outlined in their names. One uses magnetic fields, the other electrical currents.”
“And the goal?”
“In the military, to increase alertness and make the soldier in the field think better and faster in adverse conditions. It’s well past the concept stage. It may be near deployment.”
“I was in combat. I could have used that.”
“Well, it’s coming.”
Puller considered all of this. “I’m going to need your help, Ms. Shepard.”
“What can I do?”
“You can be my eyes and ears on the inside. We’ll exchange contact information and you can report to me at regular intervals.”
She looked panicked. “I…I don’t know if I can do that. Th
ey might charge me with spying or something. Or treason. I…could be executed.”
“Just calm down. Nobody’s getting executed. You have the weight of the CID behind you. We take care of the people who help us.” He paused and considered another tack, because Shepard did not look convinced. “Let me lay this on the line for you, Shepard. There is something going on at Atalanta Group that smacks of espionage.”
“Holy shit! Are you serious?”
“I wouldn’t be here otherwise. You noted it already. Your suspicions about Quentin? His lack of scientific background? His coming to this place and going to that room to do what? You telling me that’s not making you think twice?”
She nodded slowly. “You’re right. It doesn’t add up.”
“And if a spy ring is going on over there, we need to stop it. If you help me, your back is covered. If you don’t there are no assurances and it might very well be guilt by association when the hammer comes down. Then you’re on your own.”
“Omigod!” she exclaimed and rubbed a drop of sweat off her forehead.
Puller reached over and gripped her hand. “This is not my first investigation like this. I know what I’m doing, Shepard. You just have to trust me, okay? You’ll find out I’m a good friend to have. So, will you do it?”
She finally nodded. “I’ll do it.”
They exchanged contact information.
Puller said, “Now go home and hit the sack. And don’t go back to that bar.”
“I won’t. I swear. Thanks.”
“Are you okay to drive?”
She nodded. “I am now. I don’t think I’ve ever been this sober in my life, actually.”
Puller watched her hurry across the street, get into her car, and quickly drive off.
Puller was about to get out of his car when he heard it.
Screams and gunfire.
Coming from the vicinity of the Grunt.
He jumped out of his car, pulled his weapon, and, like he always did, sprinted toward, not away from, the violence.
He kept sweeping his weapon and listening for sirens.
More gunfire was coming from inside the bar.
He reached the doorway and looked inside. His training allowed him to size up stressful and violent situations quickly.
He could observe, by quick count, about thirty people inside. Four men were on the floor. What their status was, he couldn’t tell. Three were young. One was a big guy dressed all in black and with what looked to be splints on one hand. He was older, as evidenced by his white hair.
As Puller gazed more closely he could see the man was dead, his eyes wide and glassy under the harsh lights of the bar. The other men’s backs were to him. He didn’t know if they were dead or simply injured.